ILOILO — Residents of northern Iloilo and nearby Capiz towns will now have faster and easier access to government assistance following the opening of a new Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) satellite office in Estancia on April 21, 2026.
DSWD Region 6 formally inaugurated the satellite office at the Estancia Municipal Hall in Barangay Poblacion Zone II, marking a major step in decentralizing social welfare services and easing access for far-flung communities.
The launch was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DSWD-6, represented by Regional Director Joselito Estember, and the local government unit (LGU) of Estancia led by Mayor Ma. Angelica Bianca Requinto-Espinosa.
The new facility is expected to significantly cut travel time and costs for beneficiaries, particularly those from remote mainland and island barangays, who previously had to go to Iloilo City to access aid.
The satellite office will serve as a frontline hub for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, providing financial and material assistance to individuals and families in distress, alongside other DSWD social protection services.
“Ining satellite office maga-cater sa mga kabanwahanan sang Carles, Estancia, Balasan, Batad, Concepcion, San Dionisio, kag northern part sang Capiz. Ini magahatag sang assistance in times of crisis situation, indi lang diri sa mainland kundi kaupod ang aton island barangays,” said Director Estember.
Officials said the strategic location of the office will improve response time and streamline service delivery, especially during emergencies when immediate assistance is critical.
Alongside the satellite office, DSWD also inaugurated a newly constructed facility that will serve as a prepositioned storage site for family food packs (FFPs), with a capacity of up to 5,000 packs. The facility is expected to enable faster distribution of relief goods during disasters and crisis situations./PN
